Method and apparatus for stringing tobacco



, Jan. l5, 193,5. J. R, BASS METHOD AND APPARATus FoR STRINGING ToAcco Fi1ed Nov. 21, 1951 5 sheetssheet 1 Y .wlf -Vviw d r Jan. 15, 1935. J, R. BAss METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO Filed NOV. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuento@ Jan. 15, 1935.

J. R. BASS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO Filed Nov'. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gm d @mv gli/ ve Nmv w ttowmf Jan. 15, 1935. J. R. BAss METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO Filed Nov. 21, 1931 5 sheets-shed 4 Jam. l5, 1935. J. R. BAss 1,987,844

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO Filed Nov. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l IIBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIII HIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIII "IIIIIIIIIIID 1| meme Jan. 15, 193s l 1,987,844

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGING TOBACCO John Robert Bass, Danville, Va.

Application November 21, 1931, Serial No..5'll6,594

9 Claims. (Cl. ISI-21) This invention relates to the handling and stood, reference is had to the accompanying curing of tobacco, and more particularly to apdrawings, forming part of this specicatlon, and paratuafor Stringing tobacco leaves, preparain which: tory to'housing. Figs. 1 and 1*, taken together, illustrate a 5 In some tobacco growing sections, it is thel side elevation of the complete apparatus; 5

practice to cut ldown the entire plant and hang Figs. 2 and 2l together illustrate a plan view the plants in the barn for curing, the plants of such apparatus; being usually impaled upon a housing stick and Figs. 3 and 4 are front and side elevations the filled sticks being supported in the barn respectively, on an enlarged scale. of a coml on tier poles. bined gripping and cutting device hereinafter 10 In other sections, it is the practice to strip more fully described;

the leaves from the stalks of the plants and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing hang the leaves only in the barn for curing. the gripping and cutting device in a different 'Ihis is especially true in the handling of certain position;

Il grades of tobacco, such, for example, as the Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on a still furtherl 15 finer grades Vknown as cigar leaf. Such a enlarged scale, substantially on the line 5*-5 of method permits gathering only the ripe or ma Fig. 5, showing the construction of the jaws of ture leaves from the plant, leaving the stalk the gripping and cutting devices; standing and thus permitting the greener leaves Fig. 5" is a section substantially on the line U to mature. 5*-5b of Fig.l1, looking `in the direction of the 20 The present inventionrelates particularly to arrows; Y the second of the above described methods of Fig. 6 is a section on an enlarged scale, subhandllng tobacco, namely, that method in'which stantially on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1, looking only the leaves, as distinguished from the entire in the direction of the arrows;

l plant,` are housed vin the barn. In following Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken 25 this method, it has heretofore been the practice substantially on the line 'l-'I of Fig. 1, looking to assemble the leaves on a cord or thread, thus in the direction of the arrows; forming' a string,l this operation being known Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken as stringing. It has also been proposed to form substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1; and a string by sewing the leaves to a cloth band Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illus- 30 or tape. In either case, the idea has usually trating my improved string of tobacco leaves as been to hang the strings of leaves in the barn it appears when mounted astride a housing stick. by stretching them between tier poles. Referring to the drawings in detail, it may be It has been found, in practice, however, that explained in advance that the complete apparal this method of housing the strings by stretchtus, the assembly of which is illustrated in Figs.

- ing them between tier poles is troublesome and 1, 1! and '2, 2* is designed to sew together tobacco commercially unsatisfactory. leaves to form a continuous string, to cut this One of the objects of the present invention is, string into sections of desired length, and to place therefore, to devise a practical method for supeach section longitudinally astride a housing 0 porting strings of tobacco leaves on the usual stick, so that the stick, carrying the section of housing sticks which rest upon the tier poles, string, may be placed in position on the tier poles. and thus avoid the necessity of securing th'e Referring to the drawings, I employ, in constrings to the tier poles'` nection with my improved apparatus, a sorting Another object is to provide an improved table 1, on which the leaves to be strung are means for Stringing tobacco leaves by using a delivered. 'I'he apparatus itself comprises a suit- 45 sewing machine, but without the use of any band ableframe 2 carried on legs 3. l 0r tape. Supported on the frame is a top or working A still further object is to provide improved surface 5, which may conveniently be formed of f means for forming a continuous string of tobacsheet metal and which is disposed substantially l0 co leaves and forcutting such string into units -in the vsame plane as the sorting table 1. 5 or sections of the desired length for housing. Mountedinthe frame immediately adjacent the Other subsidiary objects and advantages will edge of the sorting table is a roller v6, secured appear as the description proceeds. to a shaft 9, and at the other end of the top 5 In order that the invention and one means is a similar roller "I, supported on but free to Il for carrying it into effect may be readily underturn with respect to a shaft 10.

Running over the rollers 6 and 7 and supported upon the top 5 is a travelling belt or apron 8, preferably formed of canvas or the like, and constituting a conveyor for feeding the leaves forward from the sorting table.

As above stated, the roller 7 is free to turn on its shaft 10, but is normally locked thereto by means of a clutch member 11 keyed to the shaft, the member 11 and the end of the roller 7 being provided with cooperating clutch surfaces 11a, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The clutch member 11 is formed with an annular groove in which freely works the bifurcated end 12 of. a control or shifting rod 13. This passes freely through a member 16 of the frame and carries at its end a roller 14, a helical spring 15 surrounding the rod and being interposed between the roller and the frame member 16. This spring tends to move the rod and roller toward the left and to draw the clutch member 11 out of engagement with the roller l0. The clutch member is normally held in driving relation to the roller 7 by a gear wheel 17 against the face of which the roller 14 bears.- This gear wheel is provided at one side with a relatively short arcuate cam slot 18 (see Fig. 1B) disposed in line with the rod 13, so that during a small part of each revolution of the wheel 17, the roller 14 drops into such slot, under the influence of the spring 15, thus shifting the clutch member 11 to the left, out of engagement with the roller 7, thereby temporarily interrupting the rotation of the roller 7 and hence the travel of the conveyor belt 8.

The machine may be driven either by hand or by foot power or by any suitable motor. By way of illustration, I have shown it as operated by foot power. To this end, I provide a crank shaft 19 journalled in the frame of the machine at one end and at the other end in a suitable bracket 20. The shaft 19 is provided with a pair of cranks 21 which are secured by connecting rods to the ends of a pair of treadles 22, hinged to a frame member 4. It is obvious that an operator, by working the treadles 22, can rotate the shaft 19 and thus drive the machine.

The shaft 19 carries a bevel gear 23 meshing with a bevel gear 24, secured to a shaft 29, which bevel gear 24 also meshes with and drives a third bevel gear 25 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 26, journalled in theframe andcarrying a substantial fly wheel 27. Also secured to the shaft 26 adjacent the fly wheel is a spur gear 28, hereinafter further referred to.

'I'he shaft 29 carries at its end a spur gear 30 meshing with an idler'pinion 31, which in turn meshes with and drives a gear 32 secured to the end of the shaft 10. Thus, the shaft 10 is driven from the the driving shaft 19 and imparts rotation to the roller 7 by means of the clutch l1, above described.

The gear wheel 17, which controls the position of the clutch, is rotated by means of a pinion 33,`

also secured to the shaft 10.

Also xed to the shaft 29 is a pulley 34, over which passes a belt 35 which extends upwardly I prefer using either a single thread chain stitch machine or a machine employing two threads and producing what is known as a double chain stitch. This latter type of machine is that which is commonly employed for sewing up the ends of sacks of sugar, feed, etc., and is particularly suitable for my purposes, although any type of machine can be used which makes stitches in such manner that they can readily be unraveled by pulling one of the threads.

As is well known, chain stitch machines, and especially double chain stitch machines, are capable of looping the thread or threads together to form a series or chain of stitches, regardless of whether or not any fabric or other material is interposed. Thus, in sewing up the ends of sacks, as above mentioned, it is the common practice to extend or continue the chain of stitches beyond the fabric so as to form a projecting end or cue, this serving to prevent accidental unravelling. Therefore, by employing a machine of this type, I am enabled to unite the stems of tobacco leaves to form a string simply by feeding the stems successively under the needle and connecting them solely by the loops of thread forming the chain stitches, some of such stitches passing through the stems themselves and others lying in the spaces between the stems.

As above stated', the machine conventionally illustrated in Fig. 6- may be of any suitable-type, but I have shown a spool of thread 37a mounted thereon in the usual way, the thread from this spool passing down through suitabletension and feed devices to the needle 38,

To assist in properly spacing and feeding the leaves under the needle of the sewing machine, I preferably employ, in addition tol the travelling conveyor 8, a force feed device shown as consisting of an endless chain or belt39, having pins projecting therefrom. This chain passes around a pair of pulleys 40 and 4l, the latter being se;A

cured to a driving shaft 42, and the former being journalled at the forward end of a bracket 43, pivotally mounted upon the shaft 42, so that the pulley 40 and the forward end of the belt is capable of free vertical movement to accommodate varying thicknesses of material. The other end of the shaft 42 carries a pulley 44, which is driven by means of a belt 45 from a pulley 46 secured to the shaft 9 (see Fig. 2n). The shaft 42 is journalled in a bracket 43a adjustably secured to the frame of the machine by bolts 43b passing through slots in the same (not shown) In order to guide the leaves in their passage toward the sewing machine, I provide an adjustable gauge or butting board 47. This is secured to the top of the machine by means of brackets 48 having slots through which work clamping screws 49. Thus, the distance of this gauge or board from the conveyor belt 8 and from the needle of the sewing machine can be acusted as desired.

Meshing with the gear 28 is a pinion 50, jour-'- nailed in suitable bearings, and having pivoted thereto one end of the connecting rod 51, (see Fig. 2B) the other end of which is secured to one arm of a bell crank lever 52 pivoted at 53 to-the frame. Thus, as the gears 28 and 50 revolve, the bell crank lever 52 is oscillated.

In order to hold the stemsof the leaves in posi'- tion, as they pass under the needle of the sewlength, so that, while the end adjacent the sewing machine is substantially horizontal, the remotev end lies in a vertical plane. Such remote end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is secured to one or more supporting rods 59, slidably mounted in a block 61, springs 60 surrounding the rods and being interposed between such block and the bar 54, whereby the bar is resiliently urged away from the block. This block 61 is carried by a bracket 62 adjustably secured by a slotted connection and bolt 63 to another bracket attached to a part of the frame 2. f

Substantially coextensive with the presser bar 50 and having a similar quarter twist in its length is a third conveyor belt 65, preferably similar to the belt 39 and having pins projecting from its surface to engage the stems of the tobacco leaves. This belt 65 passes around a pulley 68 mounted on the shaft 10 adjacent the sewing machine needle, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and also around a horlzontal pulley 67, secured to a shaft 68, journalled in the bracket 62. A guiding or supporting bar 65 is supported on the frame of the machine in such a position as to be substantially coextensive with that run of the belt 65 which is adjacent the presser bar 64, so that the belt runs in substantial contact with this bar. The edge of the bar adjacent the belt 65 is likewise formed with a quarter twist, so that it conforms with the configuration of the belt and serves to rigidly support the belt as the latter travels along. By reference to Fig. 2, it will thus be seen that the space between the bar 54 and the adjacent run of the belt 65 constitutes a throat or passage along which the string o'f tobacco leaves travels as it leaves thesewing machine, the springs 60 serving ftoJur/ge the bar 54 toward the belt so as to firmly grip the stems at all'tixnes.

It will be particularly noted that while the leaves pass the sewing machine needle in a substantial horizontal position, they are shifted to a vertical positon as they pass along the presser bar 54, so that when they reach the end of such bar, adjacent the block 61, they are hanging freely downward.

. The apparatus for placing the tobacco strings upon the housing sticks will now be described. This part of the mechanism is supported by a cantilever bar 69, suitably secured to the frame 2, 3, at one end. and anchored to the bracket 62, as by means of a screw 70 (see Fig. 1). From this point, the bar is offset vertically, as shown at 69, and then extends in a substantially horizontal direction at a considerably higher level than the presser bar 54.

Depending from the supporting bar 69 are a pair of brackets 71 and 72, the former being secured by a bolt in any desired one of a series of holes 73 (see Fig. 2), whereby the distance be- .r tween the brackets may be adjusted.

around such pulley, and a driving pulley 78 on the upper end of the shaft 68.

.Secured to the chain 76 at symmetrically spaced points thereof are a plurality of combined gripping and cutting devices 79, the detailsof which are most clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5. Each of these devices, of which two are shown in the drawings, comprises a pair of jaws 80 and 81, pivoted at 82 to the body, the jaws being carried by arms 83, between which is interposed a spring 84 which normally tends to urge the jaws together, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper` ends -of the arms 83 diverge slightly and carry anti-friction rollers 85. These rollers are adapted to engage pairs of operating bars or ramps 86 and 87, supported by the brackets 71 and 72.

By reference to Figs. 5 and 5a it will be seen that one of the jaws, such as 81, carries at one edge an upstanding knife or blade 81a, the sharp edge of which is adapted to cooperate with the adjacent edge 80* of the jaw 80 lto produce a shearing action, like a pair of scissors. The inner faces of the jaws 80` and 81 are preferably roughened or knurled so as to provide gripping sur faces 81. From this, it will be seen that if a string or chain of stitches is interposed between the jaws when they'are in the open position shown in Fig. 5, and the jaws then close to the position shown in Fig. 4, the cord or string will be severed or cut by reason of the shearing action of the parts 80 and 81, while at the same time, thesevered end of the cord or string will be firmly gripped by the surfaces 81b of the jaws.

In the drawings, I have shown a channel shaped guide member 88 extending between the brackets 71 and 72 above the chain 76, for the .purpose of maintaining the gripping devices in a vertical plane and guiding them as they travel along, although the stiffness of the chains 76 will, in most cases, be sufficient, and this guide may be omitted.

By reference to Figures 2 and 5b, it will be seen that the pair of bars constituting the ramp 86 are parallel throughout a greater portion of the upper part of their length, and throughout that portion which encircles the pulley 74, but that the lower portion of these bars are disposed at a slight angle so as to provide diverging arms, as best shown in Fig. 5b. When, therefore, one of the gripping devices 79 travelling toward the left, as viewed in Fig. l on the lower run of the chain 76, enters between the arms of the bars 86, the rollers will engage these arms, and as the gripping device moves onward, the rollers 85 will be forced together and the jaws opened, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

As the gripping and cutting device 79 proceeds toward the right on the upper run of the chain 76, and encounters the ramp bars 87, the rollers are forced together by theflaring ends 87a of A such bars and the jaws are opened to the position shown in Fig. 5. The jaws are held in this open position as the device 79 travels around the pulley 75. The bars 87, however, terminate abruptly at a point just beneath the pulley 75, as shown at 8'?b in Fig. 1, with the result that as the device 79 passes out from between the/se bars at this point, the spring 84 snaps the jaws 80 and 81 together, into the position shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the jaws come together as the gripping device'leaves the .bracket 72 and are ,opened as the device approaches the bracket 71.

Arranged beneath the travelling chain 76 and substantially in the same vertical plane, is an upstanding support shown as comprising a suitable frame 89 over which are stretched smooth sheets 90, which may conveniently be of metal. As shown in Fig. 8, these sheets slightly converge, and at the upper end of the frame 89 is a horizontal member 89". The upper edges 91 of the sheets 90' project somewhat above the member 89 so as to form a pocket or channel for the reception of a housing stick 92. This may be similar to that commonly employed for housing tobacco by other methods. The forward end of the supporting structure formed by the frame 89 and sheets 90 is preferably shaped to form a relatively sharp edge, like the bow of a boat, as indicated at 93, and mounted inside of this pointed end is a vertically disposed shaft 94, journalled to oscillate inthe frame and having secured to its lower end an arm 95, connected by a rod 96 to the oscillating bell crank lever 52, above' referred to (see Fig. 2a), it being understood that the frame 89 is suitably anchored to the frame 2 of the rest of the apparatus, as by means of a bolt 2*, (see Fig. 1).

To the upper end of the shaft 94, immediately above the structure 89, 90, is secured a finger 97, extending toward the presser bar 54. This nger is disposed in the path of the string of tobacco leaves, passing from the bar 54, and has its end preferably rounded or provided with a knob, as shown, so as to avoid injury to the leaves. It will, of course, be understood from what has been said that as the machine operates, the finger 97 oscillates from side to side in a horizontal plane.

The operation of the apparatus as a whole will be brieiiy described. The tobacco leaves, having been previously pulled, or stripped from the stalk, are delivered upon the sorting table 1. 'I'he operator then places the leaves upon the conveyor belt 8 with the ends of the stems abutting against ihe gauge board 47, the leaves being placed on the conveyor in more or less closely associated relation but usually in such a manner that considerable space exists between the stems themselves. rI'he leaves travel toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2a and are finally engaged by the forced feed belt 39 and carried under'the presser bar 54, which preferably has an upturned end. The leaves then pass successively under the needle of the sewing machine, the needle piercing the stems and forming a continuous series of stitches,

some of such stitches piercing through the stems and others merely forming a chain between successive stems and connecting the same. As the :tems are discharged from the feed belt 39, they are engaged by the second feed belt 65 and the string of connected leaves is fed forward .by the belt 65, being carried between such belt and the presser bar 54, the leaves, when they reach the left hand end of such bar, hanging in substantially vertical position, as above described.

In beginning the operation of the machine, it is necessary to manually engage the forward end of the string in one of the gripping devices 79, such device being located adjacent the bracket 72 as shown in Fig. 1. Then, as-the machine continues to run, this gripping device will travel toward the left and draw the string of leaves with it, in a direction parallel with the supporting structure 89, 90 and above and lengthwise of the housing stick 9'2'held by such structure. As the string is drawn along toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the successiveleaves encounter the oscillatig finger 97 and this finger serves to divert or direct successive leaves alternately to opposite sides of the support. It may be explained that by the expression successive leaves alternately, I do not mean to belimited to an operation in which each individal successive leaf is necessarily deflected to opposite sides of the support. It will be appreciated, of course, that the finger 97 will not always necessarily throw successive leaves alternately to opposite sides of the support, but it will produce substantially this effect, that is to say, it will direct or deflect some of the leaves to one side of the support and some to the other. This results in the string being drawn endwise along the support with the leaves astride the same, so that when the string has been moved the full length of the support, and the housing stick 92 is then lifted, it will engage and carry with it the string of leaves, such string being disposed longitudinally of the stick and astride the same, with some leaves on one side and some on the other, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 9.

I have described the clutch device 11 and the arcuate slot 18 in the wheel 17 for operating the same. It will therefore be understood that as the apparatus is continuously driven, and the sewing machine runs continuously and continuously forms a series of chain stitches, the travel of the conveyor belt 8 is periodically and momentarily interrupted, and thus the feeding of leaves is similarly periodically interrupted. This results, therefore, in the production of a continuous string of leaves in which the leaves are arranged in groups, such groups being connected solely by a chain of stitches. The length of this connecting chain of stitches or, in other words, the spacing ofthe groups of leaves from each other, is of course determined by the length of the slot 18, and this may be made as long as desired. The mechanism is so timed, however, and the parts are so proportioned that the lengths of the groups of leaves is substantially equal to the length of a housing stick, or rather slightly less than such length. Also, the length of the groups of leaves is slightly less than the distance between the two gripping devices 79.

Assuming the apparatus to be in operation, as described, it will now be understood that one gripping device is always in engagement with the front end of the string and serves to draw it along toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, depositing the string astride the housing stick 92. As this gripping device 79 on the loweirun of the chain enters between the arms of the ramp bars 86, it is opened as shown in Fig. 5, and releases the end of the string. Substantially at the same moment, the other gripping device travels down around the ramp bars 87, with its jaws in open position, as shown in Fig. 5, and these jaws engage over the string in the space between two successive groups of leaves. As this gripping device snaps out from between the ends 87b of the bars 87, it serves to simultaneously sever the string and grip the severed end- The above operation therefore takes place continuously, the string being drawn forward by the two gripping devices operating alternately, and the string being severed into sections of unit length, as each gripping device engages the string adjacent the ramp bars 87. The unit lengths of string are thus successively placed astride the supporting structure 89, 90, land the attendant merely inserts successive housing sticks 92 in position and then liftsthem out of the support with the string sections astride of the sticks, as shown in Fig. 9.

Finally, it will be understood that the cutting and gripping devicesv successively engage the string at about midway ot the space between the groups of leaves, so that when the string is severed at this point, there remains aprojecting end or cue of chain stitches on each side oi each group of leaves. In Fig. 9, the chain of stitches is indicated at the projecting end o cue at y, while the leaf stems are shown at s..

As is well known, it is a characteristic of chain stitches, either single or double, that they can be easily unravelled merely by pulling on the end oi the thread. When, therefore, it is desired to unstring the tobacco leaves for packing or manufacture, the thread can be readily stripped from. the leaves by pulling out the chain stitches, thus leaving the tobacco entirely free from thread.

While I have shown and described certain details of construction, it will, of course, be understood that these are illustrative only and that the invention is by no means limited to the exact construction shown. Variations and modifications falling within the scope of the invention will, of course, readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is: 1. Apparatus for Stringing tobacco comprising a sewing machine, means for feeding tobacco leaves sidewise and for causing their stems to pass successively under the needle of said machine, whereby said leaves are united to form a string, and traveling means, in addition to said feeding means, and.' unattached to said leaves, for supporting and carrying said completed string away from said needle, said traveling means being constructed to progressively turn said string of leaves from a horizontal position to a position in which the leaves hang vertically downward.

v 2. Apparatus for Stringing tobacco comprising means for continuously forming a string of leaves with the leaves arranged on the string in spaced groups, means for feeding the string along, and means for severing the string at` points between said groups to form units for housing. 1

3. Apparatus for stringing tobacco comprising means for continuously forming a string of leaves withthe leaves arranged on the string in spaced housing stick, with some of the leaves on one side and some on the other.

4. Apparatus :or-Stringing robaoo comprising means for continuously forming a string of leaves with the leaves arranged on the string in spaced groups, means for supporting in horizontal p0- sition a housing stick of approximately the same length as said groups, means for feeding said string along said 4stick with someleaves on one side and some on the other, and means for severing the string at the rear of each group after the group has been positioned over the said stick. 5. Apparatus for handling tobacco comprising means for forming the leaves into a string, means for supporting a housing stick, means for draw- 4ing said string endwise along said stick, and means for directing leaves alternately to opposite sides of the stick as the string travels on to the same.

6. Apparatus for handling tobacco comprising means for forming theleaves into a string, means i'or supporting a housing stick, in horizontal position, an endless carrier having one run disposed above and substantially parallel with said stick, means on said carrier for gripping said string to draw it forward over said stick, and automatic means i'or releasing said gripping means when the string has traveled the desired distance along said stick.

7. Apparatus for handling tobacco comprising means for continuously forming the leaves into a string, and automatic means for drawing said string continuously forward and for cutting it into successive unit lengths.

8. Apparatus for handlingtobacco comprising means for continuously forming the leaves into a string, an endless traveling carrier, a plurality of combined gripping and cutting devices on said carrier spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the sections into which it is desired to cut the string, and means for successivelyv causing one of said devices to grip the'forward end of the string and draw it along with the carrier, and another of said devices to engage the string and simultaneously cut oil the section of string between said devices and grip the forward end of the following portion of the string.

9. In tobacco handling apparatus, the combination with an upstandng, elongated, narrow support, of means for forming ,a string of leaves and drawing said string endwise over said support, and an oscillatory 'finger mounted at the end of said support and serving tovdirect successive leaves of the 'string to opposite sides of the support as the string travels along. Y

JonN ROBERT Bass. 

